Reenforced fabric basket



July 16; 1935. I G. W, BEULKE ET 2,@?,99?

REENFORCED FABRIC BASKET Filed Nov. 15, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 19.. G. W. BEULKE AL REENFORGED FABRIC BASKET 2 Sheets-Sheefi 2 Filed Nov. 15, 1933 3 14/0 WM (Jordon mezazfl e Patented July 16, 1935 frame membersthereof.

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REENFORCED FABRIC BASKET g Gordon W.Beulke and Alfred A. Abernethy, H f v St. Paul, Minn. i Application November15, 1933, Serial No'. 698,088 5 Claims. (cr sp-51) It is our object to provide a novel. basket or hamper having a light, rigid frame and readily.

removable and washable" fabric cover for the frame.

' Another object is to provide an unusually sanitary, strong, durable. and inexpensive container for clothes and for other useswhere it is impor tant to guard the contents againstdamageby snagging, chafing or catching on the Container or Other objectsjwill appear and be more fully pointed out in the following specification and claims.-

Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment of our invention particularly adapted for use as a clothes basket,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device;

Fig. 2 is a typical transverse section with portions of the frame broken away for clearness, and

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

We provide a light, rigid frame preferably constructed from metal. This frame has, around the top of the basket, an endless rod 4 which is supported by side frame members 5 and end frame members 6 having their upper ends welded to the rod 4. There is a pair of members 5 at each side connected by runners T to the members 5 at the opposite side. The runners l facilitate sliding the basket from place to place. The end members 6 are connected together by a longitudinally extending member 8 which is welded to upwardly offset portions 9 of the runners l.

The main body of the basket is constructed from canvas or other suitable fabric adapted to be washed. The fabric is sewed together in suitable box form and constitutes flexible side walls l0, end walls H and a bottom l2. Projecting from the upper edges of the walls It) and H are flaps l3 folded across the top of the rod and extending down a substantial distance upon the exterior of the basket. A pair of straps M are sewed to the lower edges of the flaps It at the sides of the basket and extend beneath the bottom I2, a suitable buckle 15 being provided on each strap to adjust its tension and permit the fastening of the otherwise free ends of the strap together. The straps it are preferably constructed from washable material such as the fab ric of the body of the basket. Openings it are formed. in the walls I! and overlapping flaps E3 to afford hand holes which allow the grasping of opposite portions of the frame member 4 for use as handles. A stiffening member H is placed horizontally within the body to give shape to the ing the tension of the straps Hi, the bottom i2 edges of the bottom L2". This stiffening member I! is preferably a panel of light metal, plywood or suitable composition and is suspended from the side walls It and i i upon the upper surface of the bottom I2. The important function of the mem- 5 ber I1 is to give shape to the bottom of the basket" and it is only necessary that this. member extend around the marginsof the bottom. Thus amar-' ginal rod of the required stiffness may be suitably confined within a pocket formed in the fabric bottom |2,-,as a substit'ute for the rigid panel illustrated.

When the fabric of the basket becomes soiled it may be quickly and easily removed and washed. To remove it, the straps M are merely freed at the buckles l5'so that the side flaps !3 are released and the entire fabric and straps are then withdrawn from the frame. The stiffening member ll is removed from the fabric and the fabric, including the straps, may be cleansed in a washing machine or otherwise washed and then dried and replaced in the frame with the greatest case. If desired, the fabric may be run through a wringer. Its replacement merely involves the folding down of the flaps it over the rod i and the fastening of the straps M at the buckles it. We prefer to suspend the bottom it in spaced relation to the frame members 8 and 9 and if the fabric shrinks after washing, by merely adjust- 30 may be secured at the desired height. Thus shrinkage may be compensated for from time to time.

It will be evident that there is no danger of snagging or otherwise injuring the most delicate fabrics or other contents of the container which rest on the smooth,suspended bottom and otherwise make contact only with the fabric walls, the frame being effectively covered. Our invention has been used successfully in the construction of laundry or clothes baskets and hampers and for baby baskets or basinettes with slight modifications in the matter of proportions and number of frame members. For certain uses padding may be provided on the frame members or some of 45 them.

gagement with said frame member comprising straps extending beneath the bottom of the basket and adjustably joining opposite wall portions of said body together.

2. A basket of the class described having in combination a rigid top frame member extending around the top of the basket, side frame members for supporting said top frame member, a Washable fabric forming the walls and bottom of the basket, flaps projecting from opposite walls of said fabric and freely passing over the top of said top frame member for suspending said fabric from said member and a plurality of flexible straps secured to said flaps and extending upon the exterior of said walls and bottom for removably securing said fabric in engagement with said top frame member.

3. A basket of the class described having in combination a rigid top frame member extending around the top of the basket, side frame members for supporting said top frame member, a boxshaped, washable fabric forming the walls and bottom of the basket, flaps projecting from opposite walls of said fabric and freely passing over the top of said top frame member for suspending said fabric from said member and a plurality of flexible straps secured to said flaps for removably and adjustably securing said fabric in engagement with said top frame member.

4. A basket of the class described having in combination a rigid top frame member extending around the top of the basket, side frame members for supporting said top frame member, a box-shaped, washable fabric forming the walls and bottom of the basket, flaps projecting from opposite walls of said fabric and foldable over the top of said top frame member for suspending said fabric from said member, a plurality of straps secured to said flaps and extending upon the exterior of said walls and bottom for removably securing said fabric in engagement with said top frame. member and a rigid, removable bottom member adapted to give shape to the bottom of said fabric,

5, A basket of the class described having in combination a top frame member extending around the top of the basket, side and bottom frame members for supporting said top frame member in horizontal position, a box-shaped, washable fabric forming the Walls of the basket adjacent the inner surfaces of said side frame members, flaps projecting from opposite walls of said fabric and freely passing over the top of said top frame member and down a substantial distance upon the outer surfaces of said side frame members and a plurality of fastening members secured to said flaps and adapted to adjustably and removably secure said fabric about said top frame member.

ALFRED A. ABERNETHY. GORDON W. BEULKE. 

